Automatic railway-station indicator



(No ModeL) A 3 shetssheet 1.

W. B. BRAD SBY & E.-W. HAGEE'.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY STATION INDIUATO-R.

No. 373,961. a Patented Nov. .29, 1887.

EX AT/0 N IV GREENVILLE Y WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

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( No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. B. BRADSBY 85 E. W. HAGEE.

um. O T A G I D N I N O I T A T S Y A W L I A R G I T A M 0 T U A Patented Nov. 29, 1887.

INVENTOR m3}? ATTOR YS.

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W. B. BRADSBY & E. W1 HAGE'Ef AUTOMATIC RAILWAY STATION INDICATOR.

No. 373,961 Patented Nov. 29, 1887.

WITNESSES: I j INVENTOR:

' M BY flu/w g ATTOR EYS.

N. PETERS. PhmvLilhcg-upher. Washington, 0v 0.

UNITED STATES PATENT WILLIAM B. BRADSBY AND EDWARD W. HAGEE, OF GREENVILLE, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-STATION INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373.961, dated November 29, 1887.

(No model.)

class used for displaying to the passengers on railway-trains the names of the successive stations along the route, and has for its obj eat to provide an automatic, efficient, and durable apparatus of this character.

The invention consists in certain novel fea- U tures of construction and combinations of parts of the station-indicator, all as hereinafter dey scribed and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional elevation of a railway-car with our improved station-indicator applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional elevation taken on the line a; m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional side elevation taken on the line 3/ y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4B is an inner face View of the bell-signal of the indicator. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of portions of the indicator-wheel and the levers operated therefrom for gearing the indicator-band'shifting mechanism, with the driving mechanism operated from the car-truck; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged front view of the mile-wheel and its direct connections.

We show the station-indicator as applied to a steam-railway car; but it is applicable also to street railway cars by substituting the names of streets for those of the stations on the band of the indicator.

A worm, a, on one of the ear-truck axles drives a worm-wheel, A, which turns a vertically-ranging shaft, a, which, by bevel-gearing a rotates a shaft, a jourualed horizontally on the car-frame. The shaft to, through bevel-gearing a, imparts motion to a vertical shaft, B, which is journaled in suitable bearings in the body of the car, and preferably ranges through a narrow compartment, 0, par titioned off at one side of the toilet-room of the car. Instead of operating the shaft B by a worm-wheel at the center of the car'axle and the shafts and bevel-gearing, as above described, the shaft maybe operated by a worm at one end of the axle gearing with a wormwheel fixed directly to the shaft B, as will be understood from the dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The shaft B carries at its upper end a bevel-pinion, b, which is adapted to mesh with a bevel-wheel, D, which is splined to the driving-shaft d of the indicator proper, which we will next describe.

A suitable case, E, in the car has a front opening, 6, through which the names of the stations on the indicator-band F may be seen by the passengers. The band is attached at opposite ends to a pair of rollers, G G, whose journal-bearings are in boxes which are held to shafts g g, fitted to slide in bearings g on the car, and on these shafts springs g are placed, and act normally to force the rollers G G and those parts of the band wound on them to a friction-roller, H, which is fixed to the indicator-driving shaft d, and whereby when the shaft 01 is turned the band will be shifted to display the names of the stations successively.

The driving-wheel D, which is adapted to slide on the shaft d and to turn it, is provided with a laterally-extending flange, I, having a notch or recess, 1', adapted to engage a stop lug or bar, J, fixed to the car-body or any suitable support. A spring, K, on the shaft d, normally forces the wheel D outward to ungear it from the pinion b on the shaft B, when the notch 'i in the'wheel comes into alignment with the lug J, which, by entering the notch, instantly stops the wheel D and the indicatorband, and when the wheel is thrown into gear with the pinion b by the operation of a shipping-lever,L,as presently explained, the flange I clears the stop-lug J to allow the wheel D to make one complete revolution, or until the wheel-notch't' is again engaged with the lug J by the action of the spring K. During this one revolution of the wheel D the extremity of the lug J bears against the outer face of the flange I and holds the wheel D positively in gear with the driving-pinion b, and one complete revolution of the wheel D and its shaft 01 carries the name of the next station to view at the opening 6 of the case. over rollers f f, which hold it parallel to the The band F passes inner face of the case. (See Fig. 2 of the drawings.)

The shippinglever L isjournaled at its angle to a support, I, fixed to the car, and at one end is fitted loosely around or to the shaft d, outside of the driving-wheel D, and to its other end is connected 9. pull-rod, M, which is also attached to one end of a lever, N, which is fulerumed at a to the car, and at its other end overlies the free end of a lever, O, which is fulcrumed at its other end at 0 to the car-body. A spring, 0, normally holds the outer end or part of the lever O, or a side lug, 0, thereon, down to a flange, p, of the indicator-wheel, or upon one of a series of movable pins R in said flange.

The indicator-wheel P is journaled on or by a shaft, 1), held to a wall of the car, and so as to be rotated by the engagement of a pawl or bar, S, with the teeth p of the wheel. This pawl S is pivoted at s on an eccentric wristpin, t, which is fixed to a worm-wheel, T, which is journaled on or by a shaft, t, held to asuitable support in the car. The wheel T is engaged by a worm, U, on the driving shaft B, and whereby as the car travels one mile the wheel will make one complete revolution; hence we call this wheel T the mile-wheel. The upper end of the pawl S passes through an eye or loop, a, which is formed at the outer end ofa bar or shaft, V, which is journaled to rock axially in a bracket, V, which is held to a wall of the car by bolts or screws 1), which pass through vertical slots in the bracket, thus allowing the bar V to be raised or lowered to regulate the extent of lateral throw which will be given to the upper end, 8, of the pawl S, by which the indicator-wheel teeth 1) are engaged, and allowing accurate adjustment to cause each upward stroke of the pawl to properly engage the teeth 1) for turning the wheel P the exact distance or space of one tooth; hence the wheel P is moved one tooth for every rnile traveled by the car.

A trip-rod, \V, is fitted loosely to the pawl S, and passes through aguide-eye or loop, 8 on the pawl, and also through the eye or loop 1; of the bar V, and above said eyehasahead, w,whieh prevents falling of the trip-rod, and also raises the pins R of the indicator-wheel when the trip-rod is lifted once for each revolution of the mile-wheel T, by contact with the rod of a eanrlug, X fixed to the face of the mile-wheel.

A hell or gong, Y, is held to the indicatorshaft (1, and its tongue or clapper y is actuated by any suitable mechanism, 1/, driven from the shaft d, to sound an alarm and call the attention of the passengers in the ear to the shifting of the indicator-band to display the name of the next station.

The indicator-wheel P is preferably made with a flange, 1), at each face or side of it, a little within the bases of the wheel-teeth p, and each of the flanges is provided with a series of holes, 0', into any one of which a trippin, R, maybeplaced. The holes r arespaced apart the same distance as theadjacent wheelteeth 19*, and lie in radial lines or planes between the teeth, and whereby as the pawl S rises and turns the wheel P the trip-rod WV will immediately be lifted by the cam-lug X on the mile-wheel T to lift any one of thepins R which may have been moved in front of or opposite it, and thereby lift the levers O N and draw on the rod ill and operate the lever L to disengage thegear-wheel D from the stop lug J, and engage said gear with the rotating pinion bon the shaft 13 and cause one revolution of the shaft (Z, and shift the band F to display the name of the next station, and simultaneously sound the alarm signal Y to call attention of the passengers. \Vhen the revolving wheel D brings its notch t opposite the lug J, the spring K locks the wheel to the lug until the next lifted trip-pin R in the indicator-wheel lifts the levers O N to draw on the rod M and actuate the shipper L to again gear the indicator-band with the main driving-shaft B to show the name of the next station.

It will be understood that the levers O N will be operated by the trip-rod W only when one of the pins R is carried around opposite the trip-rod by the pawl S, and as the pinholes 1', like the teeth 1; of the wheel P, are spaced apart toindicate a distance of one mile traveled over by the car it is obvious that the pins B may be placed in the wheel P to indicate the distance in miles between the successive stations along the railway, the pins shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings bcingarranged to indicate distances of two and six miles, respectivel y, between two stations. A roller, 2, journaled to the end of an elastic plate or arm, Z, held to the car, acts between the teeth 19 of the wheel P to hold the wheel where it is moved by the pawl S, and without interfering with the action of the bar in turning the wheel.

Should the car he backed a distance on the track it will make no difference with the indicator, as it runs the mechanism backward as far as it had run forward while passing over the same ground. If the train is to be run back over the same route without turning the car end for end, it is only necessary to take out the band F and reverse its ends, as the names of the stations are printed in reverse order on opposite sides of the band, and then remove the indicator wheel and replace it other side inward, or in reversed position; and the row of pins It in the flangep of the wheel P,which had formerly been out of the path of the mile-wheel pawl S, will now be operated by said pawl. and this explains why the indicator-wheel P is made with two flanges, pp, each having radial holes r to receive pins 1% at opposite sides ofthe teeth 1 of the wheel. The pins R will be set in one flange to indicate the distances the stations are apart running the train in one direction,and the pins will be set in the opposite flange to indicate the distances between stations when running the ears in the other direction from end to end of the route. When an indicator is placed at each end of the car,a wheel, P, having but one flange and series of trip-pin-receiving holes, will be used as other mechanism for the purpose will readily be suggested to any good mechanic. The levers and rod, however, are simple and preferred devices to accomplish this object.

The entire indicator mechanism, actuated directly from the worm U, occupies but small space in the car, the/compartment G, which incloses it, being but five or six inches in. width or depth, and the outer wall of the compartment will have a removable section or hinged door, 0, giving access to the mechanism when desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railway-station indicator, the combination, with a driving-shaft, B, provided with a pinion, b, and a band, F, carrying the names of the stations and-driven from a shaft, (1, by suitable gearing, substantially as specified, of a drive-wheel, D, splined to the shaft (2, a spring, K, on said shaft normally disengaging the gearing D d, and a lever, L, adapted to engage the gearing for shifting the band F, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

2. In a railway-station indicator, the combination, with a driving-shaft, .13, provided with a pinion, b, and a band, F, carrying the names of the stations and driven from a shaft, (1, by suitable gearing, substantially as speci; fied, of a drive-wheel, D, splined to the shaft d and notched at t, a spring, K, on said shaft normally disengaging the gearing D d, a lever, L, adapted to engage the gearing for shifting the band F, and a stop-lug, J, with which the drive-wheel notch t engages, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

3. In a railwaystation indicator, the combination, with a driving-shaft, B, operated from the car-truck and adapted to impart motion to the indicat-or-band, and a shipper, L, adapted to engage the band, gearing with the shaft B, substantially as specified, of an indicator-wheel journaled to the car and provided with a series of loose pins, amile-wheel driven from the shaft B, and devices operated from the mile-wheel to give intermittent partial rotations to the indicator-wheel and project the loose pins in said wheel, substantially as specified,and mechanism,substantially as described, operated by the projected pins for throwing the shipper to gear the indicator-band mechanism with the shaft B, all arranged for operation substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a station-indicator, the combination, with a driving-shaft, B, operated from the cartruck and adapted to impart motion to the indicator-band, and a shipper, L, adapted to engage the band, gearing with the shafteB, substantially as specified, of an indicator-wheel journaled to the car and provided with a series of loose pins, a mile-wheel driven from the shaft B and carrying a pawl which gives intermittent partial rotations to the indicatorwheel, a triprod held to the pawl, and a device on the mile-wheel actuating the trip-rod to project the radial pins of the indicatorwheel, substantially as described, and mechanism, substantially as specified, operated by the projected pins for throwingthe shipper to gear the indicator-band mechanism with the shaft B, all arranged for operation substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

5. In a railway-station indicator, the combination, with a driving -shaft,. 13, operated from the car-truck andadapted to impart motion to theindicator-band, and a shipper, L, adapted to engage the band, gearingwith the shaft B, substantially as specified, of an indicator-Wheel, P, having teeth p and a series of loose pins, R, a wheel, 'I, operatedfrom the shaft B and provided with a cam, X, a pawl, S, pivoted eccentrically to the wheel '1, and guided to engage the teeth 12 of wheel I to move it the space of one tooth for each revolution of the wheel 'I, a trip-rod, WV, on the pawl, and adapted to be thrown by the cam X to project the pins It, and mechanism, substantially as specified, operated by the pro jected pins for throwing the shipper to gear the band mechanism with the shaft B, all ar ranged for operation substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

6. In a railway-station indicator, the combin-ation, with a driving-shaft, B, operated from the car'truck and adapted to impart motion to the indicator-band, and a shipper, L, adapted to engage the band, gearing with the shaft B, substantially as specified, of an indicator-wheel journaled to the car and provided with a series of loose pins, a milewheel driven from the shaft B, and devices operated from the mile-wheel to give intermittent partial rotations to the indicator-wheel andproject the loose pins in said wheel, levers O N, operated by the projected pins, and a connection, M, from the lever N to the shipper L, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

7. In a railway-station indicator, the com bination, with adriving-shaft, .B, opegated from the cartruck and provided with a pinion, b, aband, F, carrying the names of the stations and driven from a shaft, d, a drivewheel, D, splinedto the shaft d and notched at t, a spring, K, on said shaft normally disengaging the gearing D d, a shipper, L, adapted to engage the gearing for shifting the band F, and a stop-lug, J, with which the drive-wheel notch engages, substantially as specified, of an indicator-wheel journaled to the car and pro- 5 ject the loose pins in said wheel, and mechanvided with a series of loose pins, a milewheel driven from the shaft B, and devices operated from the mile-wheel to give intermittent partial rotations to the indieatorwheel and pro ism, substantially as described, operated by the projected pins for throwing the shipperto gear the indicator-hand mechanism with the shaft B, all arranged for operation substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a railway-station indicator, the combination, with the indicator-wheel P, having a series of loose pins, 1%, and teeth p", and a mile-wheel, T, operated from a shalt, B, adapted to actuate the indicator-band mechanism, a pawl, S, on the wheel T, a trip-rod, \V, on the pawl, and a cam, X, on the wheel T, operating the rod W to project the pins It,

Substantially as specified, of a rocking support, V o, for the acting ends of the pawl and trip-rod,substantially as shown and described.

9. In a railwnystation indicator, the coin binatiou, with the indicator-wheel P, having a series of loose-pins, R, and teeth 2 and a milewheel, '1, operated from a shaft, 13, l adapted to actuate the indicator-band mechanism, a pawl, S, on the wheel '1, a trip-rod, 'W, on the pawl, and a cam, X, on the wheel '1,

operating the rod W to (project the pins 1%, substantially as specified, ot' a rocking support, V 1;, for the acting ends of the pawl and trip-rod, and said support made adjustable to govern the lateral throw of the pawl, substan tially as described, for the purposes set forth.

10. In a railway-station indicator, the indi cator-wheel P, arranged with actuating mechanism, substantially as specified, and provided with two series of holesw 1*, receiving loose pins R, adapted to actuate devices causing operation of the indieatonband from a. drivingshaft, substantially as shown and described, whereby the indicator-wheel may be reversed. to accommodate travel in opposite directions, as herein set forth.

11. In a railwaystation indicator, thefollowing elements in combination: a case, E, having an opening, 6, and opposite gnidcsff, a friction-roller, H, geared for operation by a shaft driven by or from the caraxle, two rollers, G Gr, jonrnnled in spring-pressed bearings which carry them toward the roller H, and a band, F, carrying the names of the stations and wound on the rollers G G and passed over the guides ff and across the case-opening, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM B. BRADESBY. EDWARD N. HAGEE. \Vitnesses:

F. THRANER, G. F. TIIRANER. 

